Content distribution systems, distribution method, content processing device, and processing method

ABSTRACT

The present invention provided a contents delivery system ( 11 ) that can deliver contents by way of the Internet. In the system, a browser ( 23 ) requests a contents server ( 75 ) to delivery a startup file. The contents server ( 75 ) transmits the startup file to the browser ( 23 ). The startup file describes that the contents are to be delivered by streaming or that they are to be delivered by downloaded files. A contents reproducing section ( 24 ) determines if the contents are those to be delivered by streaming or those to be delivered by downloaded files according to the description of the startup file it receives from the browser ( 23 ). A television receiving set ( 3 ) may be used as contents processing apparatus for receiving the delivery of the contents from a contents delivery apparatus of such a system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a contents delivery system, a contentsdelivery method, a contents processing apparatus and a contentsprocessing method. More particularly, it relates to a contents deliverysystem, a contents delivery method, a contents processing apparatus anda contents processing method that can deliver contents without puzzlingthe user. The present invention further relates to a recording mediumwhere a program to be executed by such a contents processing apparatusand also to such a program.

This patent application claims priority of Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2003-120544 filed on Apr. 24, 2003, the entire contents ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

As a result of the wide spread use of the Internet and othercommunication network systems in recent years, various contents ofaudio/visual works are being delivered by way of the Internet. JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 200369977 proposes a technique ofeffectively delivering advertisement information to the user from theproviders of such contents.

Known methods for delivering contents of audio/visual works by way ofthe Internet include delivery by streaming and delivery by downloadedfiles. In the case of delivery by streaming, the contents receivingparty can output the data received by way of the Internet to a displayso as to have it display the contents for viewing.

On the other hand, in the case of delivery by downloaded files, thedelivered contents data are stored in a hard disc or the like once.Then, the user/viewer reproduces the files stored in the hard disc andwatches the contents anytime he or she likes.

Since delivery by streaming does not involve the need of storing a largevolume of received data, it is possible for a viewer to watch thedelivered contents even if he or she does not have a hard disc or someother large capacity storage device. On the other hand, the viewer willhave to face a large bill if the accounting system of the deliveryservice is based on connect time because the viewer has to be connectedconstantly with the server who provides the service of delivering thecontents of audio/visual works as long as the viewer receives suchcontents.

To the contrary, in the case of delivery by downloaded files, theuser/viewer can disconnect the line with the server when the transfer ofthe file is completed to consequently reduce the connect time because itis no longer necessary for the view to be connected to the server.Additionally, since the contents are stored at side of the contentsreceiving party, the user/viewer can watch them whenever he or she likesthereafter.

Thus, delivery by streaming and delivery by downloaded files haveadvantages and disadvantages. When the user/viewer watches and listen tothe contents by means of a personal computer, he or she may more oftenthan not have knowledge about delivery by streaming and delivery bydownloaded files. Then, it will not be any problem if the user/viewer isrequired to operate the computer differently for delivery by streamingand for delivery by downloaded files.

However, many users/viewers receiving the contents of audio/visual worksthat are delivered by the Internet by means of a television receivingset for viewing may not have sufficient knowledge about delivery bystreaming and delivery by downloaded files. Then, it may be a problemfor such users/viewers to operate differently for delivery by streamingand for delivery by downloaded files. Such a situation may constitutesan obstacle when popularizing systems for delivering the contents ofaudio/visual works by way of the Internet.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-identified problem of the conventional art, it istherefore an object of the present invention to provide a contentsdelivery system and a contents delivery apparatus that are free from theproblem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a contentsdelivery system and a contents delivery apparatus that can delivery thecontents of audio/visual works by way of a network without forcingcomplicated cumbersome operations to ordinary users.

In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a contentsdelivery system comprising: presenting a list of a plurality of sets ofcontents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files fromthe contents processing apparatus to a user thereof; inputtingspecifying information specifying the set of contents, from the sets ofcontents on the list, to be delivered to the user of the contentsprocessing apparatus from the contents processing apparatus; andacquiring by the contents processing apparatus the set of contentsdelivered from the contents delivering apparatus according to deliveryinformation specifying the set of contents as one to be delivered bystreaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files, the deliveryinformation being provided by the contents delivery apparatus by way ofthe network.

Thus, with the contents delivery system according to the invention, alist of a plurality of sets of contents including at least a set ofcontents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents to bedelivered by downloaded files is presented from the contents processingapparatus to the user thereof and specifying information specifying theset of contents to be delivered to the user is input from the contentsprocessing apparatus. Then, the contents processing apparatus acquiresthe set of contents delivered from the contents delivering apparatusaccording to delivery information specifying the set of contents as oneto be delivered by streaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files,the delivery information being provided by the contents deliveryapparatus.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a contentsdelivery method comprising: presenting a list of a plurality of sets ofcontents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files froma contents processing apparatus to a user thereof; inputting specifyinginformation specifying the set of contents, from the sets of contents onthe list, to be delivered to the user of the contents processingapparatus from the contents processing apparatus; and acquiring by thecontents processing apparatus the set of contents delivered from thecontents delivering apparatus according to delivery informationspecifying the set of contents as one to be delivered by streaming orone to be delivered by downloaded files, the delivery information beingprovided by the contents delivery apparatus by way of the network.

Thus, with the contents delivery method according to the invention, alist of a plurality of sets of contents including at least a set ofcontents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents to bedelivered by downloaded files is presented and, as specifyinginformation specifying the set of contents to be delivered is input, theset of contents is acquired according to delivery information specifyingthe set of contents as one to be delivered by streaming or one to bedelivered by downloaded files.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontents processing apparatus comprising: a presentation means forpresenting a list of a plurality of sets of contents including at leasta set of contents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents tobe delivered by downloaded files; an input means for inputtingspecifying information specifying the set of contents to be deliveredfrom the sets of contents on the list; and an acquisition means foracquiring the set of contents delivered from a contents deliveringapparatus by way of a network according to delivery informationspecifying each set of contents as one to be delivered by streaming orone to be delivered by downloaded files, the delivery information beingprovided by the contents delivery apparatus by way of the network.

The delivery information may be correlated with the license of the setsof contents.

The delivery information may further include information for accessingthe sets of contents.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided acontents processing method comprising: a presentation step of presentinga list of a plurality of sets of contents including at least a set ofcontents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents to bedelivered by downloaded files; an input step of inputting specifyinginformation specifying the set of contents to be delivered from the setsof contents on the list; and an acquisition step of acquiring the set ofcontents delivered from a contents delivering apparatus by way of anetwork according to delivery information specifying each set ofcontents as one to be delivered by streaming or one to be delivered bydownloaded files, the delivery information being provided by thecontents delivery apparatus by way of the network.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aprogram recorded on a recording medium so as to be installed in acontents processing apparatus for receiving contents delivered from acontents delivery apparatus by way of a network, the program comprising:a presentation step of presenting a list of a plurality of sets ofcontents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files; aninput step of inputting specifying information specifying the set ofcontents to be delivered from the sets of contents on the list; and anacquisition step of acquiring the set of contents delivered from acontents delivering apparatus by way of a network according to deliveryinformation specifying each set of contents as one to be delivered bystreaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files, the deliveryinformation being provided by the contents delivery apparatus by way ofthe network.

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided aprogram to be installed in a contents processing apparatus for receivingcontents delivered from a contents delivery apparatus by way of anetwork, the program being adapted to cause a computer to execute: apresentation step of presenting a list of a plurality of sets ofcontents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files; aninput step of inputting specifying information specifying the set ofcontents to be delivered from the sets of contents on the list; and anacquisition step of acquiring the set of contents delivered from acontents delivering apparatus by way of a network according to deliveryinformation specifying each set of contents as one to be delivered bystreaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files, the deliveryinformation being provided by the contents delivery apparatus by way ofthe network.

Other objects of the present invention and specific advantages that thepresent invention provides will become clearer from the descriptiongiven below by referring to the accompanying drawings that illustratepreferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a contents delivery systemaccording to the invention, showing the configuration thereof;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a digital television receivingset operating as a component of the contents delivery system, showingthe functional structure thereof;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a remote commander for remotelyoperating a digital television receiving set that operates as componentof the contents delivery system;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the server operating as acomponent of the contents delivery system;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of information that can be exchangedbetween a digital television receiving set and the server that operateas so many components of the contents delivery system;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the relationship between variousIDs and metadata;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the relationship among packagemetadata, license metadata and contents metadata;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the operation of a digital televisionreceiving set when receiving from the server contents that are deliveredby streaming;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the processing operation that is aprerequisite for the processing operation of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a startup file for delivery bystreaming, showing the structure thereof;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the operation of reproducing a file that isstored in advance;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the operation that is a prerequisite for theprocessing operation of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of a startup file to be downloaded,showing the structure thereof;

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a startup file for delivery bystreaming to be used with another protocol;

FIG. 15 is part of a flow chart of the processing operation forutilizing contents by a digital television receiving set that is acomponent of a contents delivery system;

FIG. 16 is the remaining part of the flow chart of the processingoperation for utilizing contents by a digital television receiving setthat is a component of a contents delivery system;

FIG. 17 is an example of list of titles that can be displayed;

FIG. 18 is an example of list of titles in the package shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is another example of list of titles in the package shown inFIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is an example of package list that can be displayed;

FIG. 21 is an example of image of sales promotion that can be displayed;

FIG. 22 is another example of image of sales promotion that can bedisplayed; and

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of a personal computer, showing thestructure thereof.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Before describing preferred embodiments of the present invention, thepresent invention will be summarily described below.

A contents delivery system according to the invention is adapted todeliver contents of programs from a contents delivery apparatus that maytypically operate as server 2 as shown in FIG. 1 to a contentsprocessing apparatus, which may typically be a digital televisionreceiving set 3-1 as shown in FIG. 1, by way of a network such asInternet 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

A contents delivery system according to the invention is so designed asto present a list of a plurality of sets of contents including at leasta set of contents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents tobe delivered by downloaded files from a contents processing apparatus tothe user thereof such as a list of titles in a package as shown in FIG.18 and input specifying information specifying the set of contents to bedelivered to the user of the contents processing apparatus from thecontents processing apparatus. For example, the specifying informationmay indicate that program “the Last Episode: Soaring in the Universe” isspecified by means of cursor 141 in FIG. 18. Then, the contentsprocessing apparatus acquires the set of contents delivered from thecontents delivering apparatus according to the delivery informationprovided by the contents delivery apparatus by way of a network andspecifying the set of contents as one to be delivered by streaming orone to be delivered by downloaded files. For example, the deliveryinformation may be contained in a startup file as shown in FIG. 6.

A contents delivery method according to the invention is so designed asto deliver contents by means of a contents delivery system adapted todelivery contents from a contents delivery apparatus that may typicallyoperate as server 2 to a contents processing apparatus, which maytypically be a digital television receiving set 3-1 as shown in FIG. 1,by way of a network such as Internet 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

More specifically, the contents delivery method so designed as topresent a list of a plurality of sets of contents including at least aset of contents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents to bedelivered by downloaded files from a contents processing apparatus tothe user thereof such as a list of titles in a package as shown in FIG.18 and input specifying information specifying the set of contents to bedelivered to the user of the contents processing apparatus from thecontents processing apparatus. For example, the specifying informationmay indicate that program “the Last Episode: Soaring in the Universe” isspecified by means of cursor 141 in FIG 18. Then, the contentsprocessing apparatus acquires the set of contents delivered from thecontents delivering apparatus according to the delivery informationprovided by the contents delivery apparatus by way of a network andspecifying the set of contents as one to be delivered by streaming orone to be delivered by downloaded files. For example, the deliveryinformation may be contained in a startup file as shown in FIG. 6.

A contents processing apparatus according to the invention is sodesigned as to receive a service of delivering contents, which may betelevision programs, from a contents delivery apparatus that maytypically operate as server 2 by way of a network such as Internet 1 asshown in FIG. 1.

More specifically, the contents processing apparatus comprises apresentation means for presenting a list of a plurality of sets ofcontents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files suchas a list of titles in a package as shown in FIG. 18, an input means forinputting specifying information specifying the set of contents to bedelivered which may, for example, indicate that program “the LastEpisode: Soaring in the Universe” is specified by means of cursor 141 inFIG. 18 and an acquisition means for acquiring the set of contentsdelivered from the contents delivering apparatus according to thedelivery information provided by the contents delivery apparatus by wayof a network and specifying the set of contents as one to be deliveredby streaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files. For example,the delivery information may be contained in a startup file as shown inFIG. 6.

For the purpose of the present invention, the delivery information maybe correlated with the license of the specified sets of contents. Morespecifically, the set of contents that includes a startup file as shownin FIG. 6 shows a one to one correspondence relative to a contents ID, acontents ID shows a one to n correspondence relative to a license ID anda license ID shows a one to one correspondence relative to a license.

For the purpose of the present invention, the delivery information mayfurther include information for accessing the specified sets ofcontents.

Furthermore, a contents processing method according to the invention isso designed as to use a digital television receiving set 3-1 as shown inFIG. 1 to receive a service of delivering contents, which may betelevision programs, from a contents delivery apparatus that maytypically operate as server 2 by way of a network such as Internet 1 asshown in FIG. 1. The contents processing method comprises a presentationstep of presenting a list of a plurality of sets of contents includingat least a set of contents to be delivered by streaming and a set ofcontents to be delivered by downloaded files such as a list of titles ina package as shown in FIG. 18, an input step of inputting specifyinginformation specifying the set of contents to be delivered which may,for example, indicate that program “the Last Episode: Soaring in theUniverse” is specified by means of cursor 141 in FIG. 18 and anacquisition step of acquiring the set of contents delivered from thecontents delivering apparatus according to the delivery informationprovided by the contents delivery apparatus by way of a network andspecifying the set of contents as one to be delivered by streaming orone to be delivered by downloaded files. For example, the deliveryinformation may be contained in a startup file as shown in FIG. 6.

Finally, a recording medium according to the invention carries therein arecorded program to be executed by a contents processing apparatus,which may typically be a digital television receiving set 3-1 forreceiving a service of delivering contents, which may be televisionprograms, from a contents delivery apparatus that may typically operateas server as shown in FIG. 1, by way of a network such as Internet 1 asshown in FIG. 1, the program comprising a presentation step ofpresenting a list of a plurality of sets of contents including at leasta set of contents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents tobe delivered by downloaded files such as a list of titles in a packageas shown in FIG. 18, an input step of inputting specifying informationspecifying the set of contents to be delivered which may, for example,indicate that program “the Last Episode: Soaring in the Universe” isspecified by means of cursor 141 in FIG. 18 and an acquisition step ofacquiring the set of contents delivered from the contents deliveringapparatus according to the delivery information provided by the contentsdelivery apparatus by way of a network and specifying the set ofcontents as one to be delivered by streaming or one to be delivered bydownloaded files. For example, the delivery information may be containedin a startup file as shown in FIG. 6.

Now, a contents delivery system and a contents processing apparatus tobe used for such a system according to the invention will be describedin greater detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, a contents delivery system 11 according to theinvention comprises a server 2 and a plurality of digital televisionreceiving sets 3-1, 3-2 that are mutually connected by way of theInternet 1 that is a typical network. A broadcasting station 4 is alsoconnected to the Internet 1. The server 2 receives and keeps televisionprograms broadcast from the broadcasting station 4. Alternatively, theserver 2 receives and keeps television programs provided by thebroadcasting station 4 by way of the Internet 1. It may needless to saythat the server 2 can keep its own programs in addition to theabove-described television programs.

Each of the digital television receiving sets 3-1, 3-2 may be arrangedin a house, an office or some other place and has a function ofreceiving the electric wave broadcast from the broadcasting station 4 sothat the viewer thereof may view any of the television programs itreceives. Additionally, it has a function of receiving programs providedby the server 2 so that the viewer thereof may view any of them.

While FIG. 1 shows a server 2 and two digital television receiving sets3-1, 3-2, the system may comprise a plurality of servers 2 and thenumber of digital television receiving sets may generally be greaterthan two. In other words, there may generally be more digital televisionreceiving sets other than the digital television receiving sets 3-1, 3-2shown in FIG. 1.

Note that the digital television receiving sets 3-1, 3-2 are referred tosimply as digital television receiving sets 3 when it is not necessaryto discriminate them.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a digital television receivingset 3 operating as a component of a contents delivery system 11according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1, showing the functionalstructure thereof.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digital television receiving set 3 comprises aninput section 21 and various commands are input by the user by way ofthe input section 21. The digital television receiving set 3 furthercomprises a presentation section 22 that displays the images of programsand outputs the corresponding sounds. Additionally, the presentationsection 22 presents other various pieces of information to the user.

Referring again to FIG. 2, browser 23 presents an HTML (hyper textmarkup language) document (including CSS (cascading style sheets) andexecutes the script contained in the HTML document. Additionally, thebrowser 23 presents a BML (broadcast markup language) document(including CSS) and executes the script contained in the BML. Stilladditionally, it can deal with the XrML (extensible rights markuplanguage) of ContentGuard, Inc.

A contents reproducing section 24 is realized by software, which maytypically be Media Player (tradename, available from Microsoft), andcontrols and implements the operation of reception of contents throughreproduction thereof. The contents reproducing section 24 alsoimplements various control operations incorporated in the digitaltelevision receiving set 3 other than the processing operations ofmarkup languages.

A DRM (digital right management) processing section 25 communicates withthe DRM server 74 (see FIG. 4) of the server 2 and acquires licensesrelating to contents and manages them in the digital televisionreceiving set 3. Since the DRM processing section 25 supplies key Kc fordecrypting encrypted data to the contents reproducing section 24, it maybe integrated typically with the contents reproducing section 24 inorder to securely manage the key Kc.

An accounting processing section 26 executes accounting processes thatmay vary depending on the accounting system involved in the process suchas an electronic money system or a prepayment system. Contents storagesection 27 is typically formed by using a hard disc so as to store thecontents provided by the contents server 75 (FIG. 4) of the server 2.

An application 28 comprises various pieces of software and controlsvarious operations of the digital television receiving set 3. Metadatadatabase 29 keeps the metadata supplied from the metadata database 73 ofthe server 2 (FIG. 4).

The input section 21 outputs a signal that corresponds to the input bythe user to the browser 23 and the contents reproducing section 24. Thepresenting section 22 presents the information provided from the browser23 or the contents reproducing section 24. The contents reproducingsection 24 reads out the required contents from the contents storagesection 27. Whenever necessary, the contents reproducing section 24issues instructions for an accounting process to the accountingprocessing section 26. The DRM processing section 25 executes a DRMprocess according to the instructions for the DRM process from thecontents reproducing section 24 and subsequently outputs the key Kc thatis necessary for decrypting the encrypted contents to the contentsreproducing section 24.

The application 28 is adapted to start up the browser 23 for anoperation and executes a process for issuing instructions necessary forreproducing contents to the contents reproducing section 24.Additionally, it issues instructions for retrieving metadata to themetadata database 29 and acquires the metadata obtained as a result ofthe retrieving operation.

The digital television receiving section 3 executes various operationsaccording to the instructions from remote commander 51 as shown in FIG.3. The remote commander 51 has number buttons 52 for numbers 1 throughtwelve. The remote commander 51 is also provided at the front endthereof with a generating section 53 for generating an infrared signalaccording to a corresponding button operation by the user.

In FIG. 3, direction buttons 55U, 55D, 55L and 55R that are operated bythe user for moving the cursor on the presenting section 22 upward,downward, leftward and rightward respectively are arranged below thenumber buttons 52 and an enter button 54 to be operated for finalizingan input operation is arranged at the center of the direction buttons.

In FIG. 3, a detail button 56, a stop button 57 and a reproductionbutton 58 are arranged at a lower part of the remote commander 51. Thedetail button 56 is operated by the user when he or she givesinstructions for displaying detailed information of the information thatis being displayed. The stop button 57 is operated by the user when heor she stops the ongoing reproduction of contents. The reproductionbutton 58 is operated by the user when he or she gives instructions forreproducing contents. A menu button 59 is arranged above thereproduction button 58 so as to be operated by the user when he or shewants a menu to be displayed.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the remote commander 51 may be furtherprovided with various buttons to which various functions are assignedrespectively.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the server 2, illustrating theconfiguration thereof. The server 2 of the present invention includes ashop server 71, a settlement server 72, a metadata database server 73, aDRM server 74 and a contents server 75.

The above listed components of the server 2 exchanges informationrespectively with the corresponding sections of the digital televisionreceiving set 3 as shown in FIG. 5.

When the shop server 71 is accessed from the browser 23 by way of theInternet 1, it provides navigation information including an HTMLdocument and a BML document to the browser 23. The settlement server 72communicates with the browser 23 or the accounting processing section 26to settle an account. The settlement server 72 executes a settlementprocess according to a request for the settlement process from the shopserver 71 and outputs the outcome of the settlement to the shop server71.

The metadata database 73 reads out the metadata requested by theapplication 28 out of the metadata it stores according to a metadataacquisition request from the application 28 and supplies them to themetadata database 29 of the digital television receiving set 3 so as tohave it stores them.

The metadata database 73 also supplies the metadata obtained as a resultof a retrieving operation according to a metadata retrieval request fromthe shop server 71 to the latter.

The DRM server 74 communicates with the DRM processing section 25 of thedigital television receiving set 3 according to a license issuancerequest from the shop server 71 and executes a DRM process. The DRMprocess includes an authentication process of verifying that the user isa proper user having a license, a process for providing/acquiring thekey Kc required for decrypting the corresponding encrypted data andother processes necessary for managing copy rights. When a DRM processis executed properly, the DRM server 74 supplies the contents server 75with a key Kc necessary for decrypting the corresponding contents.Additionally, when a DRM process is executed properly, the DRM server 74supplies a corresponding key Kc to the DRM processing section 25 of thedigital television receiving set 3.

The contents server 75 encrypts contents data by means of the key Kcsupplied from the DRM server 74 and delivers them to the contentsreproducing section 24 by streaming or to the contents storage section27 as a downloaded file so as to have it store them.

While the server 2 includes a plurality of servers in the instance ofFIGS. 4 and 5, it is also possible to compose the server 2 of a singleserver.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the relationship among variouspieces of information relating to settlements, DRM processes andreproductions. As shown in FIG 6, an appliance ID and a user ID show aone to one correspondence. The appliance ID is an ID assigned to thedigital television receiving set 3 and the user ID is an ID assigned tothe user who uses the digital television receiving set 3. Thus, thedigital television receiving set 3 and the user are identified by theseIDs.

The user to whom a predetermined user ID is assigned concludes acontract with a manager of the server 2 for the purchase of a package asa commodity. More specifically, the user purchases a television programhe or she wants as a package out of the television programs provided bythe server 2. The package shows a one to one correspondence relative toa package metadata.

Each package contains one or more than one sets of contents. Each set ofcontents comprises a contents main body, Download.xml that is amanagement information file for downloading and a startup file. Thecontents main body refers to contents data of a television program.

Download.xml that is a management information file is prepared when thecontents are to be downloaded. It includes therein a directory and filenames. A download operation is completed when all the files listed inthe directory are received.

A startup file contains information of the type of delivery that tellsif the set of contents to be delivered needs to be delivered bydownloaded files or by streaming. A startup file will be described ingreater detail hereinafter by referring to FIG. 10.

A set of contents shows a one to one correspondence relative to acontents ID. The set of contents is identified by the contents ID.Additionally, the contents ID shows a one to one correspondence relativeto a contents metadata. As shown in FIG. 7, a contents metadata containsa contents ID, a title, a genre name and a description of a televisionprogram.

A total of n (n being an integer not smaller than 1) license IDs arecorrelated to a contents ID. Similarly n license metadata are correlatedto a single contents metadata.

The license ID is used to identify the license that is made to show aone to one correspondence relative to it. Each license is composed of alicense ID, a usage rule and a bundle of contents keys. A bundle ofcontents keys (which corresponds to the key Kc shown in FIG. 5) is abundle of keys that includes an appropriate number of keys required fordecrypting the set of contents for which the license is effective andshows a one to one correspondence relative to the contents ID.

A license metadata shows a one to one correspondence relative to alicense ID. As shown in FIG. 7, a license metadata includes a licenseID, a contents ID, a contents URL (uniform resource locator), a licenseURL, the type of delivery, the title of a set of contents and the textof a usage rule.

The license metadata and the contents metadata are made to show an n toone correspondence relative to each other by the contents ID includedtherein.

The contents URL of the license metadata indicates the accessing targetfor acquiring the contents. The license URL indicates the accessingtarget for acquiring the license. The type of delivery indicates thatthe sets of contents to be licensed are to be delivered by streaming orby downloaded files.

A package is made to show an m to n correspondence (n being an integernot smaller than 1 like m) relative to a license ID. Similarly, apackage metadata is made to show an m to n correspondence relative to alicense metadata.

As shown in FIG. 7, a package metadata is composed of a package ID, ashop site URL, a package utilization period, a package type, packageinformation and a license ID list.

A package ID is a piece of information for identifying a package. A shopsite URL indicates the accessing target of the shop site for acquiringthe package. The package utilization period indicates the period duringwhich the package can be utilized.

The package type indicates if the package is a pack or a subscription.Additionally, the package type indicates if the package is a multicastor not. A pack is a package that contains a predetermined appropriatenumber of programs. With a subscription, the user can view the programsof a predetermined channel for a predetermined number of days. Amulticast indicates that the package is provided to many and unspecifiedusers free or on a fee charging basis.

Package information includes the title of the package and the feecharging system. The license ID list describes the license IDs of thelicenses contained in the package.

The package metadata corresponds to the license metadata that by turncorresponds to the license IDs described therein.

Now, the process of reproducing a set of contents on the server 2 willbe described below by referring to the flow chart of FIG. 8.

Note that, it is necessary for the digital television receiving set 3 toacquire a metadata from the server 2 before executing the process ofFIG. 8. The process for acquiring a metadata is shown in the flow chartof FIG. 9.

Referring firstly to FIG. 9, the application 28 accesses the metadatadatabase 73 by way of the Internet 1 according to the command from theuser and requests to acquire the metadata in Step S151. Then, as themetadata database 73 is accessed by the application 28 in Step S171, itreads out the metadata relating to the requested set of contents in StepS172 and supplies the metadata to the metadata database 29 of thedigital television receiving set 3 by way of the Internet 1. Themetadata database 29 receives and stores the metadata in Step S161.

As a result of the above process, the metadata database 29 of thedigital television receiving set 3 keeps the metadata in advance. Themetadata includes a package metadata, a license metadata and a contentsmetadata as shown in FIG. 6.

The process illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed in a state where themetadata is held in the metadata database 29 in a manner as describedabove. Note that the user interface shown in FIG. 8 comprises an inputsection 21 and a presenting section 22 shown in FIG 2.

The user issues a command for starting up the menu of the digitaltelevision receiving set 31 by operating the menu button 59 of theremote commander 51. Then, in Step S1, the input section 21 by turnissues a command for starting up the menu to the contents reproducingsection 24. In Step S21, the contents reproducing section 24 receivesthe command from the input section 21 and, in Step S22, it issues acommand for reading out the metadata already stored in the metadatadatabase 29 to the latter.

In Step S91, the metadata database 29 receives the command from thecontents reproducing section 24 and, in Step S92, it reads out metadatathat is stored in advance and supplies it to the contents reproducingsection 24.

In Step S23, the contents reproducing section 24 receives the metadatasupplied from the metadata database 29 and, in Step S24, it reads outthe titles of the sets of contents (programs) described therein andsupplies them to the presenting section 22 that operates as userinterface. In Step S2, the presenting section 22 displays a list of thesets of contents supplied from the contents reproducing section 24.

Then, the user views the displayed list and selects a program he or shewants, operating one or more than one appropriate direction buttons 55Uthrough 55R and the enter button 54 of the remote commander 51. In StepS3, the input section 21 supplies a selection signal that corresponds tothe operation carried out by the user (information specifying theselected program) to the browser 23.

In Step S51, the browser 23 receives the signal indicating the selectedprogram from the input section 21 and, in Step S52, it requests thecontents server 75 to supply the startup file that corresponds to theprogram (set of contents). The request includes the contents ID foridentifying the set of contents.

In Step S122, the contents server 75 reads out the startup file of theset of contents that corresponds to the specified contents ID andtransmits it to the browser 23.

In Step S53, the browser 23 receives the startup file (startup.html)from the contents server 75.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a startup file that can bereceived in this way, showing the configuration thereof. As shown inFIG. 10, the startup file describes that the contents ID of the selectedset of contents is “content_ID1” and that the type of delivery of theset of contents is delivery by streaming ([content=“stream”]).

The startup file further describes that the delivery jumps to the URLthat is described next after the elapse of a second and[http://contents_server.ssny.cojp/samplet.tts] is specified for the URL.

In Step S54, the browser 23 starts up the contents reproducing section24 by means of a plug in operation.

In Step S25, the contents reproducing section 24 starts operating and,in Step S26, it requests the DRM processing section 25 to acquire alicense.

In Step S71, the DRM processing section 25 receives the request foracquiring a license from the contents reproducing section 24 and, inStep S72, it accesses the DRM server 74 and requests it to execute aDRAM process. At this time, the license ID for the set of contents to bereproduced by the contents reproducing section 24 and the user ID areadded to the DRM server 74 as arguments.

In Step S111, the DRM server 74 executes the DRM process according tothe request from the DRM processing section 25. Then, the DRM server 74checks if the user has already acquired a license on the basis of thelicense ID and the user ID supplied from the DRM processing section 25.While the checking process will not be described in greater detail, theuser is required to acquire a license in advance in order to reproducethe set of contents. The DRM server 74 stores the license ID foridentifying the license issued to the user and the user ID of the user.If the license ID and the user ID that are supplied from the DRMprocessing section 25 are already registered in a list, the user isdetermined to be an authorized user. If the license ID and the user IDare not registered in the list to show a proper correspondence, the useris determined to be not the user who purchased the license properly. TheDRM server 74 notifies the DRM processing section 25 of the outcome ofthe checking process.

In Step S72, the DRM processing section 25 receives the outcome of thechecking process from the DRM server 74 and determines if the user is tobe authorized for reproduction of the set of contents or not accordingto the received outcome. Then, in Step S73, the result of thedetermination is supplied from the DRM processing section 25 to thecontents reproducing section 24.

If the notice received from the DRM processing section 25 does notauthorize the user for reproduction of the set of contents, the contentsreproducing section 24 suspends the reproducing process in Step S27. If,on the other hand, the notice received from the DRM processing section25 authorizes the user for reproduction of the set of contents (thenotification contains the key Kc required for reproducing the set ofcontents), the contents reproducing section 24 accesses the contents URL(FIG. 7) that describes the license metadata of the license in Step S28.In the instance of this example, the URL indicates that the set ofcontents is kept by the contents server 75.

In Step S123, the contents server 75 is accessed by the contentsreproducing section 24 and, in Step S124, it reads out the data of thecontents main body described in the contents URL and delivers them tothe contents reproducing section 24 by streaming.

In Step S29, the contents reproducing section 24 receives the deliveryof the contents data by streaming from the contents server 75 and, inStep S30, it decrypts the encrypted contents data by means of the Key Kcand supplies them to the presenting section 22 that operates as userinterface. In Step S4, the presenting section 22 displays the contentsdata that are delivered from the contents reproducing section 24 bystreaming.

Thus, the process of delivering the set of contents specified by theuser by streaming is executed in the above described manner.

The process of delivering contents from the contents server 75 bystreaming is described above. Now, the process of downloading contentsto the digital television receiving set 3 in advance so as to be storedas files and reproduced later will be discussed below.

In this instance, the digital television receiving set 3 has to downloadcontents data in advance. This process will be described by referring tothe flow chart of FIG. 12.

In Step S361, the application 28 accesses the metadata database 73 andrequests to acquire metadata. In Step S391, the metadata database 73receives the request and, in Step S392, it reads out the metadata of thecorresponding set of contents and transmits the read out metadata to themetadata database 29 of the digital television receiving set 31. In StepS371, the metadata database 29 stores the metadata supplied from themetadata database 73.

The above process is same as the process from Step S151 to Step S172described above by referring to FIG. 9.

Then, in Step S362, the application 28 accesses the contents server 75and requests transmission of contents according to a correspondingcommand from user. In Step S401, the contents server 75 that hasreceived the request reads out the contents requested in Step S402 andtransmits them to the contents storage section 27. In Step S381, thecontents storage section 27 receives the contents transmitted from thecontents server 75 and stores them.

In this way, the contents that correspond to the metadata are stored inadvance both in the metadata database 29 and the contents storagesection 29.

The process illustrated in FIG. 11 is executed in a state where themetadata and the contents are stored in advance in a manner as describedabove.

In Step S201, the input section 21 issues a command for starting up themenu to the contents reproducing section 24 according to a correspondingcommand from the user that is issued when the user operated the menubutton 59. In Step S221, the contents reproducing section 24 receivesthe menu startup command from the input section 21 and, in Step S222, itby turn issues a command for reading metadata to the metadata database29.

In Step S291, the metadata database 29 receives the command from thecontents reproducing section 24 and, in Step S292, it reads out themetadata that is stored in advance and outputs it to the contentsreproducing section 24.

In Step S223, the contents reproducing section 24 receives the metadatafrom the metadata database 29 and, in Step S224, it reads out the titlesof sets of contents and outputs them to the presenting section 22. InStep S202, the presenting section 22 that operates as user interfacereceives the presented program titles from the contents reproducingsection 24 and presents them to the user.

Then, the user views the displayed program titles and selects theprogram that he or she wants to reproduce by operating the remotecommander 51. In Step S203, the input section 21 supplies informationthat specifies the set of contents specified by the user to the browser23.

In Step S221, the browser 23 receives the selection from the inputsection 21 and, in Step S222, it supplies the contents ID of theselected program (set of contents) to the metadata database 29 andrequests transmission of the corresponding startup file.

In Step S293, the metadata database 29 receives the request from thebrowser 23 and, in Step S294, it reads out the startup file thatcorresponds to the set of contents and supplies it to the browser 23.

In Step S253, the browser 23 receives the startup file supplied from themetadata database 29.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a startup file that the browser 23 mayreceive in the above-described manner. In this example, the type ofdelivery of contents is “download” and the contents ID is “content_ID2”.In this example, again, the startup file further describes that thedelivery jumps to the URL that is described next after the elapse of asecond.

Since the destination of the jump is an MPEG-2TS file, it issues acommand for starting up the contents reproducing section 24 by means ofa plug in operation in Step S254.

In Step S225, the contents reproducing section 24 starts operatingaccording to the command from the browser 23 and, in Step S226, itissues a request for acquiring license to the DRM processing section 25.In Step S271, the DRM processing section 25 receives the request foracquiring a license from the contents reproducing section 24 and, inStep S272, it communicates with the DRM server 74 and requests it toexecute a DRM process. In Step S331, the DRM server 74 executes the DRMprocess according to the request from the DRM processing section 25.This process is same as the process of Step S 111 in FIG. 8.

In Step S272, the DRM processing section 25 receives the outcome of theDRM process from the DRM server 74 and, in Step S273, it notifies thecontents reproducing section 24 of the outcome of the process.

If the received notice does not authorize the user for reproduction ofthe set of contents, the contents reproducing section 24 suspends thereproducing process. If, on the other hand, the received noticeauthorizes the user for reproduction of the set of contents, thecontents reproducing section 24 issues a command for reading out thefile of the set of contents specified in Step 228 for reproduction.

In the instance of this example, the URL indicates that the set ofcontents is stored in the contents storage section 27. Therefore, inStep S311, the contents storage section 27 receives the command forreading out the file from the contents reproducing section 24 and, inStep S312, it reads out the data of the specified file and supplies itto the contents reproducing section 24.

In Step S229, the contents reproducing section 24 receives the input ofthe data and, in Step S230, it outputs the data to the presentingsection 22 that operates as user interface.

In Step S204, the presenting section 22 receives the data from thecontents reproducing section 24 and displays them.

The contents stored in the contents storage section 27 of the digitaltelevision receiving set 3 in advance are reproduced in theabove-described manner.

While the both files of the instances illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 13 aredescribed by the scheme name of http (hypertext transfer protocol), ascheme name such as rtp (real-time transport protocol) may alternativelybe used. What is required essentially is that the resource type isexpressed on the basis of the related protocol.

While processes to be executed between the server 2 and the digitaltelevision receiving set 3 are described above, FIGS. 15 and 16illustrate flow charts of processes that are to be executed at thedigital television receiving set 3 that is the apparatus for utilizingcontents.

As the user operates the menu button 59, the contents reproducingsection 24 outputs a list of titles as shown in FIG. 17 to thepresenting section 22 according to the metadata stored in the metadatadatabase 29 in Step S501.

In the instance of FIG. 17, icons for selecting a genre such as“Japanese movies”, “foreign movies”, “animations”, “dramas” and “sports”are displayed and a list of titles of sets of contents of the selectedgenre (which is “animations” in the instance of FIG. 17) is alsodisplayed. The title of each set of contents is displayed withinformation on availability, information on composition and informationon accumulation.

In the illustrated instance, the first program is available “for threedays” and the second program is available “for a day”. The third andfourth programs are “not purchased yet” and the fifth program is “New!”.The first program is composed as a “pack”. The first through thirdprograms are “already accumulated” in the contents storage section 27.In other words, the fourth and fifth programs are not accumulated yet.

In Step S502, the contents reproducing section 24 determines if aprogram is selected or not and, if it is determined that no program isselected yet, it stands by for selection of a program.

If, on the other hand, it is determined that a program is selected inStep S502, the contents reproducing section 24 determines if theselected program is a “pack” program or not in Step S503. If the programis a pack program, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds to StepS504. In Step S504, the contents reproducing section 24 displays a listof the titles of the sets of contents that are contained in the selectedprogram (“pack”) in a manner as shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 18 shows an image that may be displayed when the first program thatis titled as “Mechanized Worrier Z Gun Gun—All Episodes in 3 Weeks” isselected. In this instance, the 47th through the last episodes (the 50thepisodes) are displayed out of a series of fifty episodes. The titlescan be scrolled up and/or down by operating the upward direction button55U and/or the downward direction button 55D of the remote commander 51.

The contents reproducing section 24 determines if the reproductionbutton 58 is operated or not in Step S505. If it is determined that thereproduction button 58 is not operated, the contents reproducing section24 proceeds to Step S506, where it determines if a command for returningto the original image is issued or not. In the instance of displayedimage of FIG. 18, a “return” button is displayed and the user can inputa command for returning to the original image by operating the directionbuttons 55U through 55R to move the cursor 141 onto the “return” buttonand then operating the enter key 54. If a command for returning to theoriginal image is not issued, the contents reproducing section 24returns to Step S505 and the processes of the subsequent steps arerepeatedly executed. If, on the other hand, it is determined that acommand for returning to the original image is issued, the contentsreproducing section 24 returns to Step S501, where the list of titles asshown in FIG. 17 is displayed again, and then the processes of thesubsequent steps are executed.

If it is determined that the reproduction button 58 is operated in StepS505, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S507. Thecontents reproducing section 24 skips the processes of Steps S504through S506 and proceeds to Step S507 when it is determined in StepS502 that a program is selected and in Step S503 that the selectedprogram is not a pack program (in other words, the selected program is aprogram of a single set of contents).

In Step S507, the contents reproducing section 24 determines if theprogram (set or sets of contents) reproduced or selected in Step S507 isalready purchased or not. If the program is already purchased, thecontents reproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S508, where itdetermines if the contents are those to be reproduced by streaming ornot. This determination is made on the basis if the startup file of theprogram (contents) describes “stream” or not. If it is determined thatthe program (contents) is contents to be reproduced by streaming (if thestartup file describes “stream”), the contents reproducing section 24proceeds to Step S511, where it reproduces the contents. Morespecifically, as described above, the encrypted contents that aredelivered by streaming from the contents server 75 are decrypted bymeans of the key Kc and supplied to the processing section 22, wherethey are displayed. Note that, it is possible to determine the type ofdelivery of the contents not on the basis of the startup file but on thebasis of the description of the license metadata of the program.

If it is determined that the contents are not those to be reproduced bystreaming (if the startup file describes “download”) in Step S508, thecontents reproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S509, where itdetermines if the contents are already accumulated or not. If thecontents are already accumulated, the contents reproducing section 24proceeds to Step S511, where it reads out the encrypted contents datafrom the contents storage section 27 and decrypts them by means of thekey Kc. Then, it supplies the decrypted contents to the presentingsection 22 and has it display the contents.

If it is determined in Step S509 that the contents are not accumulatedyet, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S510, in whichthe contents storage section 27 executes the process of accumulating thecontents. More specifically, the files to be downloaded by the contentsserver 75 are received by the contents storage section 27 and stored inthe latter.

If, on the other hand, it is determined in Step S507 that the contentsare not purchased yet, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds toStep S512, where it executes the process of displaying a package list(which packet list is contained in the package metadata).

For example, assume that a list of titles as shown in FIG. 19 isdisplayed in the process of displaying the list of titles in the pack inStep S509. According to the list of titles shown in FIG. 19, theavailability information tells that the available period of the sets ofcontents in question has “expired”. Therefore, if the user selects thelowermost one of the four episodes displayed to the user, or “the LastEpisode: Soaring in the Universe” that is “not viewed yet”, in FIG. 19,the user has to purchase it for viewing. Then, in Step S507, it isdetermined that the episode is not purchased by the user. In the case ofthe illustrated instance, the episode may be provided by way of one ofthree possible modes of purchase. Therefore, in Step S512, the threemodes of purchase are displayed to the user in a manner as shown in FIG.20.

In the uppermost mode of purchase in FIG. 20, the user can purchase only“the Last Episode”. In the second mode of purchase in FIG. 20, the usercan purchase a pack of “five episodes” from “the Episode 46” down to“the Last Episode”. In the third mode of purchase in FIG. 20, the usercan purchase a pack of all the episodes from “the Episode 1” down to“the Last Episode”.

The user is expected to select one of the three modes of purchase byoperating the remote commander 51.

Thus, in Step S513, the contents reproducing section 24 stands by untilone of the three modes of purchase is selected by the user. If it isdetermined that one of the three modes of purchase is selected by theuser, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S514, whereit determines if the selected episode (set of contents) is a set ofcontents to be reproduced by streaming or not. If the selected episodeis a set of contents to be reproduced by streaming, the contentsreproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S516, where it displays a salespromotion image as shown in FIG. 21, which is only an example. In theexample of FIG. 21, it is displayed that a single episode of “the LastEpisode: Soaring in the Universe” can be purchased for “¥200”. The usercan select either the button of “yes” or that of “no” in response to thesales promotion. More specifically, the user can select either thebutton of “yes” or that of “no” by operating the direction buttons 55Uthrough 55R and the enter button 54 of the remote commander 51 toindicate that he or she purchases or does not purchase the episode.

If the user does not purchase the episode (if the button of “no” isoperated), the contents reproducing section 24 returns to Step S512 todisplay the package list (FIG. 20) again and the subsequent processesare executed.

If it is determined in Step S517 that user issued a command forpurchasing the episode (the button of “yes” is operated), the contentsreproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S518, where it executes theprocess of reproducing the set of contents. Since the contents arereproduced by streaming in this instance, the set of contents that isdelivered by streaming from the contents server 75 is received,decrypted and presented to the presenting section 22.

If it is determined in Step S514 that the selected episode (set ofcontents) is not contents to be reproduced by streaming (and hence it iscontents to be reproduced by downloaded files), the contents reproducingsection 24 proceeds to Step S515, where it determines if the set ofcontents is already accumulated or not. If the set of contents isalready accumulated, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds toStep S516, in which it displays a sales promotion image as shown in FIG.21 in a manner as described above. Then, as described above, the usercan select either the button of “yes” or that of “no” by operating thedirection buttons 55U through 55R and the enter button 54 of the remotecommander 51 to indicate that he or she purchases or does not purchasethe episode. If the user does not purchase the episode, the contentsreproducing section 24 returns to Step S512.

If, on the other hand, it is determined that user issued a command forpurchasing the episode, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds toStep S518, where it executes the process of reproducing the set ofcontents. Since the set of contents is already stored in the contentsstorage section 27, the contents reproducing section 24 reproduces theset of contents stored in the contents storage section 27, decrypts itand then supplies it to the presenting section 22 so as to have itdisplay the set of contents.

If it is determined in Step S515 that the set of contents is notaccumulated yet, the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds to StepS519, where it has the presenting section 22 display a sales promotionimage as shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 22 shows an image that may be displayed when the user selected thefirst mode of purchase in the image of FIG. 20. While the image of FIG.21 is displayed in Step S516 when the user also selects the first modeof purchase shown in FIG. 20 but the set of contents is delivered bystreaming. On the other hand, the image of FIG. 22 is displayed when theuser selects the first mode of purchase but the set of contents isdelivered by downloaded files. In this case, a message “It will take xxminutes for downloading” is displayed in addition to the title of theprogram. Again, the user selects the button of “yes” if he or she wantsto purchase the contents, whereas the user selects the button of “no” ifhe or she does not want to purchase the contents.

In Step S520, the contents reproducing section 24 determines if acommand for purchasing the contents is issued or not and, if no commandis issued (since the button of “no” is selected), it returns to StepS512, where it displays a package list as shown in FIG. 20 once againand executes the subsequent processes.

If, on the other hand, it is determined in Step S520 that a command forpurchasing the contents is issued (since the button of “yes” isselected), the contents reproducing section 24 proceeds to Step S521,where it downloads the files of the contents and executes theaccumulation process. More specifically, the files to be downloaded thatare supplied from the contents server 75 are actually downloaded to andstored in the contents storage section 27.

Thus, the list of sets of contents that is presented to the userincludes those to be delivered by streaming and those to be delivered bydownloaded files as a mixture thereof. However, the type of delivery isnot displayed to the user. In other words, only the titles of theprograms (packages) are displayed to the user. Therefore, the user isnot required to pay attention to if the set of contents he or shepurchases is delivered by streaming or by downloaded files and canreceive the program simply by selecting it. Furthermore, the user is notrequired to consider if the program is already purchased or not. Whenthe program is not purchased yet, a message asking the user to purchaseit or not is displayed. Then, the user simply has to answer thequestion.

If the set of contents is already purchased and is to be delivered bystreaming or already accumulated, it is automatically reproduced.Therefore, any person who may be a senior person, a child and may nothave knowledge on the Internet and protocols can view the set ofcontents without fail in a simple manner. The various pieces ofinformation to be presented to the user are contained in the packagemetadata. Although not illustrated, the server 2 and the digitaltelevision receiving set 3 have respective communication sections thatoperate for interface processes necessary when communicating with eachother by way of the Internet 1. Data are encrypted before they areexchanged.

While the present invention is applied to digital television receiving.sets in the above description, the present invention can also be appliedto video cassette recorders, television tuners, hard disc recorders, DVD(digital versatile disc) recorders and various other contents processingapparatus.

The contents to be delivered are not limited to those of televisionprograms and various other contents may also be delivered according tothe invention.

The above-described processes may be executed by means of hardware.Alternatively, they may be executed by means of software. If they areexecuted by means of software, the digital television receiving set 3includes a computer as shown in FIG. 23.

Referring to FIG. 23, CPU (central processing unit) 321 executes variousprocesses according to the programs stored in ROM (read only memory) 322or the programs loaded from storage section 328 to RAM (random accessmemory) 323. The RAM 323 appropriately stores the data necessary for theCPU 321 to execute various processes.

The CPU 321, the ROM 322 and the RAM 323 are connected to each other byway of bus 324. The bus 324 also connected to input/output interface325.

The input/output interface 325 is by turn connected to an input section326, a display that is typically formed by using a CRT (cathode raytube) or an LCD (liquid crystal display), an output section 327 thattypically comprises a speaker, a storage section 328 that typicallycomprises a hard disc and a communication section 329 that typicallycomprises a modem. The communication section 329 communicates with othercomponents of the system by way of a network, which may typically be theInternet 1.

If necessary, the input/output interface 325 is connected to a drive 341and equipped with a removable media 342, which may be a magnetic disc,an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc or a semiconductor memory and,if necessary, the computer program read out from it is installed in thestorage section 328.

When the above-described processes are executed by means of software,the programs composing the software are installed from a network or arecording medium.

As shown in FIG. 23, the recording medium is a removable media 342,which may be a magnetic disc (such as a floppy disc), an optical disc(such as a CD-ROM (compact disc-read only memory), a DVD (digitalversatile disc) or the like), a magneto-optical disc (such as an MD(mini-disc)) or a semiconductor memory, may be arranged apart from theapparatus main body to store programs to be distributed to the user.Alternatively, it may be the ROM 322 or the hard disc included in thestorage section 328 that is incorporated into the apparatus main bodybefore it is delivered to the user with the programs stored in it.

For the purpose of the present invention, the steps describing theprograms recorded in the recording medium include processes to beexecuted in time series in the described sequence and also those to beexecuted not necessarily in time series but in parallel or individually.

For the purpose of the present invention, a system refers to anarrangement comprising a plurality of apparatus.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above embodimentsthat are described by referring to the accompanying drawings, which maybe altered, replaced or subjected to equivalent operations withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the invention, it is possible todeliver the contents in a particularly easy and reliable manner. Morespecifically, it is possible to deliver such contents to general userswho do not have specific technical knowledge relative to the mode ofdelivery without sacrificing the operability of the apparatus.Therefore, it is possible to make systems for delivering such contentsby way of the Internet and other networks much more popular.

1. A contents delivery system for delivering contents from a contentsdelivery apparatus to a contents processing apparatus by way of anetwork, the system comprising: presenting a list of a plurality of setsof contents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files fromthe contents processing apparatus to a user thereof; inputtingspecifying information specifying the set of contents, from the sets ofcontents on the list, to be delivered to the user of the contentsprocessing apparatus from the contents processing apparatus; andacquiring by the contents processing apparatus the set of contentsdelivered from the contents delivering apparatus according to deliveryinformation specifying the set of contents as one to be delivered bystreaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files, the deliveryinformation being provided by the contents delivery apparatus by way ofthe network.
 2. A contents delivery method for a contents deliverysystem for delivering contents from a contents delivery apparatus to acontents processing apparatus by way of a network, the methodcomprising: presenting a list of a plurality of sets of contentsincluding at least a set of contents to be delivered by streaming and aset of contents to be delivered by downloaded files from a contentsprocessing apparatus to a user thereof; inputting specifying informationspecifying the set of contents, from the sets of contents on the list,to be delivered to the user of the contents processing apparatus fromthe contents processing apparatus; and acquiring by the contentsprocessing apparatus the set of contents delivered from the contentsdelivering apparatus according to delivery information specifying theset of contents as one to be delivered by streaming or one to bedelivered by downloaded files, the delivery information being providedby the contents delivery apparatus by way of the network.
 3. A contentsprocessing apparatus adapted to receive deliveries of contents from acontents delivery apparatus by way of a network, the apparatuscomprising: presentation means for presenting a list of a plurality ofsets of contents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files;input means for inputting specifying information specifying the set ofcontents to be delivered from the sets of contents on the list; andacquisition means for acquiring the set of contents delivered from acontents delivering apparatus by way of a network according to deliveryinformation specifying each set of contents as one to be delivered bystreaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files, the deliveryinformation being provided by the contents delivery apparatus by way ofthe network.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the deliveryinformation is correlated with the license of the sets of contents. 5.The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the delivery informationfurther includes information for accessing the sets of contents.
 6. Acontents processing method to be used for a contents processingapparatus adapted to receive deliveries of contents from a contentsdelivery apparatus by way of a network, the method comprising: apresentation step of presenting a list of a plurality of sets ofcontents including at least a set of contents to be delivered bystreaming and a set of contents to be delivered by downloaded files; aninput step of inputting specifying information specifying the set ofcontents to be delivered from the sets of contents on the list; and anacquisition step of acquiring the set of contents delivered from acontents delivering apparatus by way of a network according to deliveryinformation specifying each set of contents as one to be delivered bystreaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files, the deliveryinformation being provided by the contents delivery apparatus by way ofthe network.
 7. A program recorded on a recording medium so as to beinstalled in a contents processing apparatus for receiving contentsdelivered from a contents delivery apparatus by way of a network, theprogram comprising: a presentation step of presenting a list of aplurality of sets of contents including at least a set of contents to bedelivered by streaming and a set of contents to be delivered bydownloaded files; an input step of inputting specifying informationspecifying the set of contents to be delivered from the sets of contentson the list; and an acquisition step of acquiring the set of contentsdelivered from a contents delivering apparatus by way of a networkaccording to delivery information specifying each set of contents as oneto be delivered by streaming or one to be delivered by downloaded files,the delivery information being provided by the contents deliveryapparatus by way of the network.
 8. A program to be installed in acontents processing apparatus for receiving contents delivered from acontents delivery apparatus by way of a network, the program beingadapted to cause a computer to execute: a presentation step ofpresenting a list of a plurality of sets of contents including at leasta set of contents to be delivered by streaming and a set of contents tobe delivered by downloaded files; an input step of inputting specifyinginformation specifying the set of contents to be delivered from the setsof contents on the list; and an acquisition step of acquiring the set ofcontents delivered from a contents delivering apparatus by way of anetwork according to delivery information specifying each set ofcontents as one to be delivered by streaming or one to be delivered bydownloaded files, the delivery information being provided by thecontents delivery apparatus by way of the network.